Shopify Cart Drawer Complete Guide: Adding Discount Codes, Slide Cart, Ajax Cart, and More
Most store owners focus on flashy product pages and homepage designs. While these are essential, from our years of experience in the ecommerce field, it’s the cart page—especially the cart drawer, a key opportunity to enhance the customer journey, boost sales, and reduce cart abandonment.
If you’re here, congrats! You’re on the right track to optimizing your store for better results. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about making the most of your Shopify cart drawer.
- Adding and optimizing discount code functionality.
- Enhancing user experience with features like AJAX and slide-out designs.
- Boosting sales with upsell and cross-sell tactics.
- Customizing your cart drawer using Shopify apps and manual coding.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your approach, we’ll provide actionable tips and insights to help you succeed. Let’s dive in!
1. Types of Shopify Cart Drawers
Cart drawers aren’t one-size-fits-all. They come in various styles, each designed to enhance user experience in its own way. Let’s break them down.
- Standard Cart: A simple cart page for reviewing items before checkout.
- Mini Cart: A compact cart summary, often in the header.
- Slide Cart Drawer: A detailed cart that slides in from the side.
- AJAX Cart: Real-time updates without page reloads.
- Persistent Cart: Saves cart contents across sessions. It can be integrated into both mini carts and slide carts
- Floating Cart: A hoverable or toggleable cart.
- Checkout Cart: The final review stage before payment.
Each type of cart serves a unique purpose and can be tailored to provide a better, more user-friendly experience based on your store’s design and customer needs.
2. Must-Have Features
Your cart drawer should be more than just functional—it should enhance the shopping experience. Here are some features every cart drawer needs:
Discount Code Box: Let customers apply promo codes directly. Real-time updates when a code is entered can seal the deal.
Order Summary: A crystal-clear breakdown of items, prices, taxes, and shipping costs.
Edit Options: Customers should be able to adjust quantities or remove items without hassle.
Prominent Checkout Button: A bold and easy-to-spot button to guide shoppers toward completing their purchase.
Upselling Opportunities: Use the cart drawer to suggest related products, upgrades, or bundles.
3. How to Add a Cart Drawer to Your Shopify Store
Adding a cart drawer doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re using Shopify’s built-in tools, custom coding, or third-party apps, here’s how you can make it happen.
Using Theme Settings
Many Shopify themes come with built-in cart drawer features. Here’s how to enable and tweak them:
Go to your Shopify Admin.
Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customize.
Look for cart drawer settings and turn them on.
Customize the design to match your store’s branding.
Custom Coding
Looking for something tailored and innovative? Crafting a custom cart drawer could be the perfect solution. Here’s how to get started with ease:
Create the Drawer:
Add a new snippet in your theme editor (e.g.,
cart-drawer.liquid).Use Liquid to dynamically display cart contents.
Style It:
Use CSS to design the cart drawer’s appearance, ensuring it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Add Sliding Behavior:
Write JavaScript to handle opening and closing the drawer. For instance:
document.querySelector('.cart-icon').addEventListener('click', () => {
document.querySelector('.cart-drawer').classList.toggle('open');
});
💢 Caution: The code snippets provided above are for demonstration purposes. Implementing them requires technical expertise. Always duplicate your theme before adding or editing code to ensure you have a backup in case of issues. Test thoroughly to minimize risks.
Integrate Ajax:
Use Shopify’s Ajax API to update the cart in real time.
Using Shopify Cart Drawer Apps
Don’t worry if coding isn’t your thing! Shopify’s App Store provides powerful, user-friendly cart apps that let you customize and enhance your store with just a few clicks. These apps save time, eliminate the need for technical skills, and offer advanced features like upselling, cross-selling, and cart optimization—all designed to boost your sales and improve customer experience without writing a single line of code!
Feature | |||||
⭐ Rating | 4.8 (960 reviews) | 4.8 (578 reviews) | 4.9 (759 reviews) | 5.0 (128 reviews) | 4.7 (165 reviews) |
🛒 Key Features | – Custom slide cart – In-cart upselling – Cross-selling – Free shipping bar – Sticky cart button – Cart announcements | – Progress bar – In-cart upselling – Sticky cart drawer – Volume discount – Countdown timer | – Slide cart drawer – Sticky Add to Cart – Free shipping progress bar – Trust badge – Term & condition | – Multi-tier rewards – Gift wrapping – Cross-selling – Sticky cart button – Countdown timer | – Rewards progress bar – Frequently bought together – FOMO countdown – Sticky add to cart – Trust badges |
🌍 Language Support | English | English | English | English, Chinese (Simplified), French, Spanish, Japanese | English |
💵 Price | Free, $29.99+/mo | Free, $12.99+/mo | Free, $14.99+/mo | Free | Free |
✅ Unique Features | – Add-on options like shipping insurance – Customizable design | – Bundled discounts – Frequently bought together | – Term & condition – Checkout message – Calculate shipping | – Multi-tier rewards – Free shipping tiers – Gift wrapping | – Animated sticky add to cart – Motivational quotes – Payment icons |
4. How to Add Discount Codes Box to Shopify Cart
Adding a discount code box to your Shopify cart drawer can make applying for promotions seamless and encourage conversions. Here’s how to integrate this feature, whether you prefer a manual approach or using apps.
Add discount box manual method
Step 1: Create Discount Codes
Before adding the box, ensure you have active discount codes ready. To do this:
Navigate to your Shopify Admin.
Go to Discounts and click Create Discount.
Configure the code details, such as percentage or fixed amount discounts, expiration dates, and conditions.
Save your discount codes.
Step 2: Add a Discount Code Input Field to Your Cart Drawer
To include the discount box in your cart drawer, you’ll need to modify your theme code:
Locate the Cart Drawer Code:
Open Online Store > Themes > Edit Code.
Find the file responsible for your cart drawer, often named
cart-drawer.liquidor similar.
Insert the Input Field:
Add an HTML input field where customers can enter their discount codes. For example:
<div class="discount-code-box">
<label for="discount-code">Enter Discount Code:</label>
<input type="text" id="discount-code" placeholder="Discount Code">
<button id="apply-discount">Apply</button>
</div>
3. Style the Input Box:
Use CSS to make the box visually appealing and align it with your cart drawer design:
.discount-code-box {
margin-top: 10px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
}
.discount-code-box input {
flex: 1;
padding: 8px;
margin-right: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
}
.discount-code-box button {
background-color: #007acc;
color: #fff;
border: none;
padding: 8px 12px;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
}
💢 Caution: The code snippets provided above are for demonstration purposes. Implementing them requires technical expertise. Always duplicate your theme before adding or editing code to ensure you have a backup in case of issues. Test thoroughly to minimize risks.
Using Shopify Apps
We recommend that Shopify users utilize apps for cart drawer functions instead of coding, especially if you’re not a developer. Using apps is generally more effective for most Shopify merchants due to their efficiency and user-friendliness. Coding can become a hassle whenever you want to customize your store or add an upsell tactic, right?
Many apps offer this feature as part of a broader package to enhance your cart drawer. We’ve already recommended some awesome Shopify cart drawer apps in section 3, so you have plenty of choices. But if you focus on adding compelling coupons in cart you must try this free app called Snap Product & Cart Coupon.
Here’s why this app is a game-changer:
- No need for customers to manually copy and paste codes. Discounts can be applied with a single click, streamlining the checkout process.
- Reduce cart abandonment with enticing offers directly on the cart page.
- Show personalized coupons based on customer tags or login status to create exclusive experiences.
- Tailor the look and feel of your coupons to match your brand and make them more appealing.
- Implement first-order discounts, free shipping, or minimum-purchase discounts to suit your sales strategy.
Sell More with Snap Product & Cart Coupon Today!
5. Upselling and Cross-Selling Tactics in the Cart Drawer
When you’re trying to boost sales and improve your customers’ experience, upselling and cross-selling can be super effective. Here’s a rundown of some common ways to use these strategies.
Upselling Tactics:
1️⃣ Suggesting Upgraded Versions
- If someone’s about to buy a product, offer them a better version with more features or better quality. It’s a great way to gently push for a more expensive option.
- For example: “For just $20 more, you can get the upgraded version with more features!”
2️⃣ Highlight Extra Perks
- Point out the extra benefits of a pricier product. Maybe it has a longer warranty, more functionality, or better quality—let customers know what they’re missing out on!
- For instance: “This model comes with a 3-year warranty and faster processing speeds.”
3️⃣ Create Urgency with Time-Limited Offers
- Time-sensitive deals can create a sense of urgency, making customers more likely to go for the higher-end option.
- Example: “Upgrade to the deluxe model today and save 15%—offer ends soon!”
4️⃣ Bundle with Discounts
- Package the original product with a more expensive one at a special price to make the upgrade more appealing.
- Example: “Buy this item now and get the premium version for 25% off!”
5️⃣ Pop-Up Upsell Suggestions
- Show a pop-up on the shopping cart page suggesting a better product once the customer adds an item to the cart.
- Example: “You’ve selected this model. Upgrade to this model for just $50 more and get free shipping!”
Cross-Selling Tactics
1️⃣ Complementary Product Suggestions
- Offer products that complement the item in the cart. This is typically based on the principle of bundling.
- Example: If someone is buying a camera, suggest related items such as a camera bag, tripod, or memory cards.
2️⃣ Customers Also Bought" Recommendations
- Show items that other customers commonly buy with the same product.
- Example: “Customers who bought this also bought X, Y, and Z.”
3️⃣ Frequently Bought Together
- Offer bundles that group items customers are likely to need together. Sweeten the deal with a discount for buying the set.
- Example: “Get this phone and matching case together for 15% off!”
4️⃣ Personalized Suggestions
- Use what you know about the customer’s previous purchases or browsing history to suggest relevant products.
- Example: “Since you’ve bought this book, you might also enjoy these other titles.”
5️⃣ Free Shipping Incentives
- Encourage customers to add more to their cart by offering free shipping if they hit a certain order threshold.
- Example: “Add $15 more to your cart and unlock free shipping!”
6️⃣ Seasonal or Event-Based Suggestions
- Tap into what’s happening around the holidays, events, or seasons to offer products that match the mood.
- Example: “Get your holiday shopping done early and add gift wrapping for just $5.”
By using these tactics in a thoughtful way, you can increase your sales while also enhancing the shopping experience for your customers. It’s all about giving them options that genuinely add value to their purchase!
Take Action: Transform Your Cart Drawer Today!
Your Shopify cart drawer isn’t just a functional part of your store—it’s the bridge between browsing and buying. With the right setup, it becomes a sales driver, a customer experience enhancer, and a powerful tool for boosting your store’s bottom line.
Think about it: a seamless, user-friendly cart drawer can mean the difference between a customer clicking “checkout” or walking away. By adding features like real-time discount codes, sleek slide-out designs, and persuasive upsell tactics, you’re not just improving your store—you’re shaping a shopping experience that customers will love.
But don’t stop there. The key to long-term success lies in testing, optimizing, and evolving. Dive into your data, listen to your customers, and keep refining until your cart drawer is a well-oiled conversion machine.
Engage More and Sell More with Snap Product & Cart Coupon Today!
Sophia Dao is a content strategist at WizzCommerce, specializing in e-commerce and Shopify solutions. With a passion for digital marketing and a keen eye for detail, Sophia creates engaging content that helps businesses thrive online. When she’s not writing, she enjoys exploring the latest trends in tech and commerce. Follow Sophia for practical e-commerce tips and the latest marketing insights!
